Leaders of the Ministry of Health and Ho Chi Minh City press the button to show their support and commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2030. (Photo: VOV)

Professor Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health, said that with the aspiration to push back the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Vietnam has adopted a comprehensive approach, providing a full range of services from HIV/AIDS prevention and testing to treatment.

HIV counselling and testing programs have been deployed from healthcare facilities to communities, reaching about 3.5 million people annually. Around 13,000 HIV-positive cases are detected each year. HIV/AIDS harm-reduction and prevention interventions have been rolled out nationwide.

Vietnam is among the world’s leading countries in HIV treatment quality with more than 96% of people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy. Vietnam remains steadfast in its goal of ending AIDS by 2030, the deputy minister said.

Raman Hailevich, United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Director in Vietnam, said since 2010, new HIV infections in Vietnam have fallen by 60%, and AIDS-related deaths have decreased by 57%. HIV prevention efforts in Vietnam from 2004 to 2024 have helped more than 1.2 million people avoid HIV infection and prevented nearly 320,000 AIDS-related deaths.

Notably, about 90% of people on antiretroviral treatment now receive financial support for their treatment through the Health Insurance Fund, and 96% of people living with HIV are covered by health insurance.

Huynh Minh Chin, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, said: “We join hands to push back the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The city is always at the forefront of innovation in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, leading the country, and expanding pre-exposure prophylaxis. The health sector will continue to improve the quality of medical services, ensuring that people, especially high risk groups can access HIV/AIDS services in the most friendly and equitable way.”

After the meeting, motorcades traveled along Ho Chi Minh City's streets, spreading messages on HIV/AIDS prevention and control to the public.